In the next few weeks I want to get a gift for a client of mine that drinks Crown Royal. I was considering getting him something similar but a step up in quality. Only problem is I don't know the difference between Crown Royal Whiskey and Royal Crown Cola. Any suggestions? I would appreciate any help you could provide. Thanks in advance.

hebner20 wrote:In the next few weeks I want to get a gift for a client of mine that drinks Crown Royal. I was considering getting him something similar but a step up in quality. Only problem is I don't know the difference between Crown Royal Whiskey and Royal Crown Cola. Any suggestions? I would appreciate any help you could provide. Thanks in advance.

For Canadian whiskey, there is nothing better than Crown Royal. In addition to what you usually see, Crown also makes a Reserve, a Cask 16, and an XR (extra rare)

I would go to a good liquor store and check prices. The Cask 16 is about $60 - if the guy is a Crown drinker, that's what he wants.

Or, you can look at the alternatives. Essentially, you have 3 basic typesUS - Bourbon - most commonly known as Tennessee whiskey, usually distilled from corn. Think Jack Daniels. Better bourbons would include (of those I have tried) Knob Creek, Bookers, Basil Hayden'sCanada - mostly called Canadian whiskey, usually distilled from rye grain - Crown is the best here, AFAIKScotch - best here are sinlge malts, aged up to 10 to 20 years, various tastes depending on the location and how distilled. An acquired taste but if you start on this road, it's hard to return. Too many small distilleries and options to mention.

I don't need to be patient, they're going to be shit forever. - CDT, discussing my favorite NFL team

I'm a Wild Turkey man. Their 12 year old is top notch, it easily competes with Crown. I have had Knob Creek and I think it's a fine whiskey, you can get the 1.75 ML, for about $65-$70, depending on where you go. If he's a Crown man, follow Mattvan's advice and get the Cask 16. It's pretty good.

mattvan1 wrote:Or, you can look at the alternatives. Essentially, you have 3 basic typesUS - Bourbon - most commonly known as Tennessee whiskey, usually distilled from corn. Think Jack Daniels. Better bourbons would include (of those I have tried) Knob Creek, Bookers, Basil Hayden's

Are you sure JD is bourbon? Are you sure JD is aged in burnt oak barrels? There is a very denotative legal definition of what you are allowed to call "bourbon" whiskey and it includes several specific steps.

You know who knows this shit and broke it down for me? Gnati, who is often on the college bard. We should ask him. I won't tell you how he knows, but his ass knows.

FWIW, I always though JD tried to set T whiskey apart and citied charcoal filtering. I could be wrong.

Any opinions on blendeds like Irish?

Mmmmm. I think I'm having an MM tonite. Sounds like it'll be good. I am a puss who drinks it only on rocks though. No soda though.

mattvan1 wrote:Or, you can look at the alternatives. Essentially, you have 3 basic typesUS - Bourbon - most commonly known as Tennessee whiskey, usually distilled from corn. Think Jack Daniels. Better bourbons would include (of those I have tried) Knob Creek, Bookers, Basil Hayden's

Are you sure JD is bourbon? Are you sure JD is aged in burnt oak barrels? There is a very denotative legal definition of what you are allowed to call "bourbon" whiskey and it includes several specific steps.

You know who knows this shit and broke it down for me? Gnati, who is often on the college bard. We should ask him. I won't tell you how he knows, but his ass knows.

FWIW, I always though JD tried to set T whiskey apart and citied charcoal filtering. I could be wrong.

Any opinions on blendeds like Irish?

Mmmmm. I think I'm having an MM tonite. Sounds like it'll be good. I am a puss who drinks it only on rocks though. No soda though.

A very brief amount of research shows you are right. Jack Daniels is not actually classified as a bourbon. But it's pretty close. I like Maker's Mark (a true bourbon) as well as the specials mentioned above. Not too familaiar with Irish blends - I assume here you refer to Bushmills and Jameson. Don't really like any scotch whisky blends either. I think Chivas and the like are just garbage. Love the single malts, especially the Islays, but typically too pricey for me. Also requires a different, more patient approach to consumption. Nice at the end of the evening sitting by the fire with a cigar, but (unfortunately) I am usually setting my sights more on volume.

For whatever strange reason, I am now going through a high end (though relatively inexpensive) rum phase.

I don't need to be patient, they're going to be shit forever. - CDT, discussing my favorite NFL team

Bourbon, as I was taught after doing the Bourbon Trail and spending waaaaaaaaay to much time in and around Frankfort, KY needs to generally have the following:

Come from Kentucky (not legal requirement, but basically that is where it comes from, NOT Tennessee)

Be aged in NEW white oak barrells (as I was told, they actually take some of the oak barrells that are used in bourbon production and sell them to whiskey distillers in Tennessee for their continued use).

Use Kentucky limestone water in the process.

Contain more than 50% corn mash but not more than 79% corn mash (not rye as alot of whiskey is)

Those are the general rules as I know them....and Woodford is as good as I have had.

Buffalo Trace. It's a "Kentucky Straight Buorbon Whiskey" and can peel the tar right off your throat- not for amatuers, and I really have no business drinking it. It's pretty rough.

Buffalo Trace has been my bourbon of choice for the last few months. Its 90 proof, and high quality, but only about $20. It might be a tad harsh, but we're drinking whiskey here. Plus it has a great aftertaste.

Bulliet is also good, affordable bourbon.

If price isn't an issue, I agree with waborat, I've never had any bourbon better then Booker's.

I had the pleasure of taking a shot of Johnnie Walker Blue a few weeks ago. I like whiskey (usually of the Tennessee or Canadian varieties), but not too fond of scotch....anyways I couldn't believe how smooth that stuff went down.

I would never purchase a bottle of the stuff because of the price, but if you ever get an opportunity to sample it, do not pass it up.

"And three of the better guys in franchise history, Daugherty, Z and now Kyrie could get hurt in a rubber room full of cotton balls." - Leadpipe

This week I gave my client the Cask 16 and he was very pleased. He has had it before and was aware that it is a little pricey but very good. If he sips on it a handful of times in front of the fire and thinks about me (and raises his glass in a toast to me) the price paid was well worth it.

Off topic: I saw it on line for as low as $35 in New Jersey or Chicago. damn the price fluctuation was ridiculous. It was as high as $100 in some areas.

Thanks to all that contributed. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. (drink responsibly)

I need some help fellas. The Crown Royal Cask 16 was a success but i have bought it for my client for several birthday's and Christmases now. I don't think he is tired of getting it as a gift but any thoughts about doing soemthing different? Any new suggestions over the past couple of years?

I guess if no one can give me any other ideas i will just go with the tried and true Thanks in advance.

I need some help fellas. The Crown Royal Cask 16 was a success but i have bought it for my client for several birthday's and Christmases now. I don't think he is tired of getting it as a gift but any thoughts about doing soemthing different? Any new suggestions over the past couple of years?

I guess if no one can give me any other ideas i will just go with the tried and true Thanks in advance.

AFAIK, Cask 16 is pretty much the upper limit for Canadian whiskey, so you have two paths - either American whiskey and bourbons, or Scottish whiskey (Scotch). Either path will yield a steady supply of gifts for the forseeable future.

I would start here

I don't need to be patient, they're going to be shit forever. - CDT, discussing my favorite NFL team

hebner20 wrote:In the next few weeks I want to get a gift for a client of mine that drinks Crown Royal. I was considering getting him something similar but a step up in quality. Only problem is I don't know the difference between Crown Royal Whiskey and Royal Crown Cola. Any suggestions? I would appreciate any help you could provide. Thanks in advance.

hebner20 wrote:In the next few weeks I want to get a gift for a client of mine that drinks Crown Royal. I was considering getting him something similar but a step up in quality. Only problem is I don't know the difference between Crown Royal Whiskey and Royal Crown Cola. Any suggestions? I would appreciate any help you could provide. Thanks in advance.

I love southern comfort or seagrams.

Yeah Heb, and if you can't find Seagrams, Black Velvet is sure to impress the hell out of a client.

hebner20 wrote:In the next few weeks I want to get a gift for a client of mine that drinks Crown Royal. I was considering getting him something similar but a step up in quality. Only problem is I don't know the difference between Crown Royal Whiskey and Royal Crown Cola. Any suggestions? I would appreciate any help you could provide. Thanks in advance.

I love southern comfort or seagrams.

Hey Acriumpa,

Welcome to TCF. Your posts are very insightful and compelling. I will have to check into that Seagrams of which you speak. I hope i can find it. Is it readily available in most metro areas like Atlanta? Can you suggest a reputable retailer that might have it? Thanks for the info.

I already got the Crown Royal Cask 16 again but maybe next year he will like the change of pace to Seagrams.

I always thought that Scotch was for pretentious D-Bags, until I went to Scotland and did a couple of distillery tours. Once you learn about the flavors and learn how to pull them out, then you can find the right Scotch for the right occasions.

I like the Peat of Islay single malts in the evening straight up by the fire.I enjoy the Speysides on the rocks when entertaining because they are more similar to your American whiskeys (it also much less expensive than my Islays). The lack of Peat smoke allows other flavors, like nuts, florals and fruits to shine through. These are your Glenlivets, Glenfiddich and Macallan. Aberlour (a'bunadh) is my favorite.The Highland Malts seem to be dryer and smokey, but they are pretty diverse.

My recommendations for anyone trying some of these for the first time, interested in sampling whiskeys that epitomize the regions (IMO):Island: Jura (inexpensive and very "Islay," peaty and smokey) I don't love Jura, but it is the Scotch that I think most extreme version of an Islay and it is pretty cheap (maybe $50.00 for the 16 year). My personal favorite of this group is Laguvlin 16, you can get it for about $75.00 a bottle.Speyside: Aberlour a'bunadh is my favorite and it is reasonably priced at 50-60 a bottle. It is cask strength (120 proof), but it is absolutely excellent on the rocks or with just a little water.Highland: Oban 14. It is pretty inexpensive at about $50.00 and has a very rich array of flavors.

The problem with scotch is that most of us try it for the first time as Johnny Walker Red (or some other swill like Dewars) in a rocks glass. Even the common singles, like Glenlivet or Glenfiddich etc., are not that great in their 12 year varieties. I don't drink blended often, I have had JW Blue and it is very good, but for the price I prefer other options like Glenlivet XXV.

Hope this helps anyone interested sampling some Scotch. Some say that it is an acquired taste, and I can see that, but not because it is a bad taste, it is because Scotch is as diverse as wine and you may need to acquire the right bottle that matches your tastes. If you are interested in some recommendations, shoot me a PM as I don't hang in this forum often.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Thanks for the input guys. I was not sure if my client was a scotch drinker(he isn't) and I didn't want to drop $150+ on MacAllan 18 year old scotch if he wasn't a fan. I don't want him acquiring the taste for $150 scotch on my dime. He is a great client but him and I can't afford dropping $150 on a good bottle. I also don't want to cause "pallate creep" where all he will like is the very good stuff. I stayed with the Cask 16 and he was very happy about it.

Thanks again. It is great to have a place to go if I need good advice about something i know nothing about. The good old anonymous internet - got to love it.